More than 1400 students from 32 secondary schools, including Amaroo, will perform next week for the 24th SmokeFree Youth Dance Festival.

The festival, featuring 45 dance pieces, is in partnership with Ausdance ACT.

In Amaroo's It's Time To Wake Up dance, doll makers dressed in bib and brace overalls are very surprised and scared when the dolls they have just made come to life.

But the dolls soon run out of batteries and slump to the floor, with the doll makers relieved they are lifeless once again.

Amaroo dance teacher Kirsty Hilson described the dance as a fantasy piece.

''It's quite bright and energetic but there are a few points where it's a little bit mysterious because with the dolls becoming awake, the doll makers don't quite know what to make of it,'' she said.

Ms Hilson said the 25 students had choreographed the dance themselves.

''I think it's a fantastic opportunity for them to work on a project over a few months with a real outcome, that they get to perform on a professional stage with all the technical backup.

''Also thinking about all the different production aspects like costuming and makeup and all the other things that will enhance their performance, and to try to tell a story non-verbally is really quite a challenge to a lot of them as well.''

Ms Hilson said the Youth Dance was different from something like Rock Eisteddfod.

''Because it's not a competition [it] has such a lovely feel and the students are able to appreciate each other's work and mix with students they might not normally,'' she said.

''And lots of kids that might not excel in what you might call traditional subjects can often do really well in a dance production.''

Youth Dance is on at the Canberra Theatre next Wednesday to Friday at 7.30pm. For tickets, phone 62752700